The All Progressives Congress (APC) has refused to accept the results of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, with its campaign director-general, Oluwole Oke, stating that the party will not be pressured into congratulating Governor Ademola Adeleke on his declared victory.
APC's Position on the Election Outcome
Speaking in an interview with Arise News on Monday, August 17, Oke said the party is conducting a thorough review of the election results and will determine its next step after examining the records. He emphasized that the APC does not agree with the declaration made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“And like I’ve told you that what we are doing, even for future, for records, is to conduct a thorough review of the entire process and then form our opinion. We won’t be under any sort of pressure to easily reach out to congratulate Senator Ademola Adeleke. We do not agree with the declaration of INEC. That’s our position for now. We believe he did not score the highest valid votes,” Oke said.
INEC Declares Adeleke Winner
INEC had declared Adeleke, the candidate of the Accord party, the winner of the election after he polled 511,067 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Bola Oyabamiji, who scored 444,815 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.
Adeleke won in 19 local government areas, while Oyabamiji secured 11, giving the incumbent a winning margin of 66,252 votes.
Next Steps for the APC
The APC's refusal to accept the results suggests a likely legal challenge or further political action. Oke indicated that the party's next steps would be informed by its internal review, which aims to ensure that the party's position is based on a comprehensive understanding of the electoral process.
The party's stance underscores the contentious nature of the election, which has drawn significant attention from political observers and supporters alike. As the APC continues its review, the political landscape in Osun State remains tense, with both parties holding firm to their positions.
